CHAPTER 317: CHAPTER 317: SUMMER NIGHT (PART 1)

"They have arrived, and they’re in pretty good condition, so you don’t need to worry too much."

Ethan closed the door, pretended to start praying to Sea God Isis, while speaking to Johnny Blackbird beside him.

"That’s good."

Johnny Blackbird also pretended to pray.

"So what do I need to do?"

He was very clear-minded; even if Ethan didn’t mean to threaten him with West and those patients, he still had no reason to leave the Royal Capital.

It was a sort of exchange, a responsibility a man couldn’t escape.

"Not for the time being, but Marcel is not dead; he’s alive and in my hands. How much do you know about him?"

"Marcel? He was developed by West, so I don’t know much, but he is already connected with the other side. What do you want to do?"

"Does he listen to you?"

"Theoretically speaking, he should listen to me."

"Do you have anything to prove you’re alive and can make him follow orders?"

Johnny Blackbird pondered for a moment, took out a tawny eagle insignia from his clothes, and handed it to Ethan.

"Show this to him, and he should believe it."

Ethan took it, fiddled with it for a bit, and put it away.

"What about that guy outside?"

Johnny Blackbird motioned.

Outside.

Maurice felt a bit restless.

Initially, he was excited, but now he felt a bit anxious.

Recently, it felt like he was navigating through waves as his life was full of ups and downs.

Initially, when he sensed the Goddess’s presence in the tavern, he was so excited that he nearly jumped out of his chair.

He felt his life would change drastically; he would become a legend like those Saints.

However, the subsequent developments completely went beyond his expectations and imagination.

He didn’t become a legend, nor did it seem possible to walk the Saint’s path.

Because nothing happened afterward.

After the grand divine revelation, they chased the typhoon all night, and nothing happened in the end.

The most crucial thing was that he seemed to lose God’s favor, and the Goddess stopped giving him any signs.

This made him extremely anxious.

Even though he received a divine revelation, which the church used as a reason to promote him from a basic priest to a main priest, giving him some status.

But he could clearly feel the church’s indifference towards him internally.

Even after becoming a main priest, he still had no real duties, and everyone’s attitude towards him was not as favorable as towards Ethan and Depp.

This made him realize that his weight was not enough, and he must stick closely to the other two to truly be taken seriously.

Otherwise, he would be like those historical chosen ones who were briefly brilliant and then drowned in the long river of time.

So he had to seize every possible opportunity.

For instance, this time.

Even though he didn’t know why Ethan and Depp came to the church together or sense any divine will beforehand, he had to approach them no matter what.

Just when he was feeling uneasy, the prayer room door finally opened again.

"Maurice, come on, let’s have a chat."

Ethan waved at him.

That feeling gave Maurice a strong sense of familiarity, just like before.

Could it be...

Meanwhile.

Not far away, in a house, two pairs of eyes were watching this prayer room.

High Priest Heigen and Yelit.

"Why are those two guys here again?"

"What do you think?"

"I think they’re frauds."

Yelit spoke bluntly.

He experienced that storm; although the divine revelation ceremony was grand, in the end, they gained nothing.

"Don’t say that; the Holy Father thinks they’re real."

Heigen was relatively conservative.

"Maurice is a fool too; desperately wanting to be a Saint, he will do something stupid sooner or later."

"Then keep an eye on him."

--------------------

That night.

The weather was hot, and even a slight breeze blowing in from the sea showed no sign of easing.

The heavy rain seemed isolated from the entire city.

Or perhaps, the industrial development of the Northern Royal Capital District was too rapid and intense, putting the entire city in extreme heat.

This was the latest research finding from the Meteorology Academy at Kingdom University: Industrialization causes city overheating.

However, as the North District was one of the Royalist Faction’s greatest political achievements, no matter how many research findings appeared, there would be absolutely no change in the short term.

But all this had no meaning to ordinary citizens; everyone just lived on, at most, feeling envious of the newly released coolers, thinking of buying one when they had the money.

Vasini had no such envy; he saw the heat as a challenge.

He enjoyed the heat, and even though he could afford enough coolers, he didn’t purchase them.

In some way, his piety reached the degree of ancient ascetics.

After completing prayers with a group of believers in the dark and hot sanctuary, he tidied himself up briefly and went to the house near the sanctuary that belonged to him.

Previously, the house was used to host or hold Kaster, but since Kaster became the Count, it was vacated.

Until a new guest arrived.

This new guest was personally brought by Kaster, a young man who looked quite ordinary.

Vasini did not inquire about this man’s background; anyway, as long as it was a divine decree, he would execute it seriously and complete it.

The house wasn’t hot at all, remaining cool because Vasini instructed to purchase and install a cooler before the person arrived.

Under the cool air, the young man in the house appeared quite anxious.

Especially when he saw Vasini push the door open and enter.

He looked very wary.

"How is the stay?"

Vasini asked calmly.

"It’s okay..."

Marcel nodded reluctantly.

Since West’s mishap, he had lived a life of extreme turbulence and unease.

Constantly hiding in different places, something his earlier artistic life never offered him.

The man in front of him was evidently no good soul, and Marcel couldn’t understand how his teacher knew him, let alone the encounter with that previous noble.

He couldn’t see through his teacher anymore.

"Someone wanted me to give this to you."

Vasini didn’t say more, pulling a tawny eagle insignia from his robe.

Upon seeing the insignia, Marcel brightened up significantly.

This is...